HEATING CABLE

SELECTION GUIDE

PT−HCSG−F−6/03
Pipe Tracing Heating Cable
For freeze protection and process heating
applications up to 400°F. Selection Guide

PURPOSE Pipe Tracing (a.k.a heat tracing) is commonly

used to ensure that process, fluid, or material
temperatures within pipes and piping systems are
maintained above ambient temperatures during
static flow conditions.

Under certain conditions, pipe tracing systems

may also be designed to increase (heat up)
process, fluid, or material temperatures within
pipes and piping systems.

This guide provides information and data for the

correct selection a particular type or style of
heating cable to meet the specific requirements of
conventional temperature maintenance
applications only. For heating cable selection
information relating to heat raise applications,
please contact HTD .

INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND Pipe and Heat Tracing design considerations,

heat loss calculations, installation and
PUBLICATIONS
maintenance requirements are extensively
covered by IEEE Standard 515−1997. Additional
information and requiremnents are also published
in NFPA National Electrical Code under Article
427.

The material used in this selection guide is

consistent with the information, requirements and
recommendations of both of these industry
standards and publications.

PRODUCTS The information contained within this Heating

Cable Selection Guide is intended for use with
Therma−Linx, WinterSafe, WinterSafe Plus,
AutoWatt Xtra, PermaWatt and VersaTrace
heating cables as manufcatured by HTD Heat
Trace, Inc. Whitehouse, New Jersey.
SELECTION STEP 1
PROCEDURE Use the maximum temperature that the process is
expected to reach (MPT) to determine the Maximum
Intermittent Temperature (Te) that the heating cable
will be exposed to. When applicable, steam cleaning
temperatures must be considered part of the
maximum expected process temperature (MPT)
Select only the cables with a Te value greater than
your MPT

STEP 2
Identify the desired Fluid Maintain Temperature (Tm).
Select only cables with a Maximum Maintenance
Temperature greater than your Tm

STEP 3
Identify the Minimum Expected Ambient Temperature
(Ta).
Select only cables with a Minimum Temperature
Exposure value that is lower than your Ta

STEP 4 (see Note 1a)

Determine the required watts per foot of pipe that
must be installed on the pipe to offset the heat loss
figure calculated using Steps 1 through 5 of the
Thermal Design Guide.
Select only cables with a watts/ft output that is greater
than the calculated rate of heat loss

STEP 5
Identify the operating voltage for the heating system.
Select only cables that can operate on the available
voltage

STEP 6A
Determine the total allowance of cable to be installed
on the pipe.
Length of pipe (ft) plus 5 to 10%

STEP 6B
Determine the total allowance of cable to be installed
on each valve within the system.
Divide the value (watts) determined in Step 6 of the
Thermal Design Guide by the watts/ft rating of the
cable selected in Step 4 (above) to determine the
length of cable (ft) required to trace each valve.
Multiply this length (ft) by the total number of valves
involved.

STEP 6C
Determine the total allowance of cable to be installed
on each pipe support within the system.
Divide the value (watts) determined in Step 7 of the
Thermal Design Guide by the watts/ft rating of the
cable selected in Step 4 (above) to determine the
length of cable (ft) required to trace each pipe support
Multiply this length (ft) by the total number of supports
involved.
 STEP 7
Determine the total length of cable to be installed.
Add all of the cable lengths determined in 6A, 6B
and 6C together.

STEP 8 (see Notes 2a, 2b and 2c)

Consider the heating circuit requirements
Whenever possible, select only the cable that offers a
Maximum Circuit Length that is greater than the value
(ft) determined in STEP 7 above .

STEP 9 (see Note 3a)

Consider the process and environmental design
features unique to the application and area of
installation.
Select only the cable that offers resistance to the fluid
within the pipe and the chemicals / atmospheres for
the environment surrounding the installation.
Select cables with an overbraid or overbraid and over
jacket for piping systems that require frequent
maintenance.

STEP 10
Consider the classification for the area of installation
Select only the cables that offer approved ratings and
classifications that meet or exceed the specific
requirements of your application and/or installation.

NOTE 1a
NOTES When selecting a self−regulating heating cable, use the appropriate
Power Output Graph for the cable being considered to determine
the watts per foot available at the Maintenance Temperature (Tm)
for your application.

NOTE 2a
When a single length of cable determined in STEP 7 exceeds the
Maximum Circuit Length of the cable being considered, divide the
single length into two (or more) runs and design multiple (shorter)
circuits.

NOTE 2b
Refer to the data sheet specific to each cable to evaluate the
maximum lengths of cable that can be installed on standard size
circuit breakers.

NOTE 2c
HTD and the 2002 National Electric Code, Sections 426 and 427
require the use of ground fault equipment protection . Square D
type QO−EPD and QOB−EPD circuit breakers with 30mA trip levels
are recommended.

NOTE 3a
The 2002 National Electric Code, Article 427−23A requires that all
heating cables, after July 1, 1996 must be supplied with a
grounded metal covering. To comply with this requirement, all US
customers must select, as a minimum, the overbraided version of
each style of heating cable discussed in this Heating Cable
Selection Guide and the following Heating Cable Selection Matrix.

HTD Heat Trace, Incorporated sales@htdheattrace.com

8 Bartles Corner Road Voice - +1.908.788.5210
Unit #104, Flemington, NJ Fax - +1.908.788.5204
USA 08822-5758 www.htdheattrace.com